Bulletin - Woodford County High School For Girls

Bulletin
                                                    Issue No. 372 14th September 2021

Dear Parents, & Carers,
Now that we have successfully navigated the first full week back at school, we continue to ad-
just to the practicalities of a new term, especially given the changes to our approach from last
year.
While we have reverted to the old way of doing things in many respects, other things have
changed and, of course, we continue to have to operate in the context of the ongoing Covid
pandemic.
Inevitably there have been teething troubles along the way, and we continue to work to allevi-
ate these. We have therefore adjusted our systems at lunchtime to aid through-flow in the can-
teen and the practical problems posed by a staggered start to afternoon lessons.
There are also a couple of other things I would like to bring to your attention:
    All new girls (Years 7 and some Year 12s) have now been provided with their log-ins for
    Satchel One/Show My Homework. This week parents will receive a communication about
    their log-ins. Please watch out for this.
    Lanyards are important for us identifying which year groups girls are in. This is particularly
    useful when regulating use of the canteen, supervising girls at break and lunchtime and
    getting girls onto the 679 bus at the end of the day. Please assist us by reminding your
    daughter to bring her lanyard in 9and wear it!) every day.
I’m sure there will be many other things we shall need to contact you about in the coming
weeks, so watch out for those vital communications.
Mr Jenkins (Deputy Headteacher)

Availability of Home Test Kits
The high transmissibility of the Delta virus variant means that, to limit numbers isolating, it is
more important than ever to identify cases early, before the infected individual is in school
potentially passing the virus on to others.

We therefore seek your assistance and encourage all students to continue twice weekly testing
during the remainder of this month. Students will have been issued with a new box of test kits
for this purpose following round 2 of mass onsite testing.

We would also ask that you continue to report your test results whether negative, positive or
Void to both the NHS via the NHS website https://www.gov.uk/report-covid19-result

In addition, please report the result to the school via our Microsoft form Lateral Flow Test
Home Reporting - STUDENTS (September 2021)

Contacts who are not required to self-isolate from 16 August

From 16 August, you will not be required to self-isolate if you are notified you have had close
contact with someone with COVID-19 and any of the following apply:

    you are fully vaccinated
    you are below the age of 18 years 6 months
    you have taken part in or are currently part of an approved COVID-19 vaccine trial
    you are not able to get vaccinated for medical reasons

Fully vaccinated means that you have been vaccinated with an MHRA approved COVID-19
vaccine in the UK, and at least 14 days have passed since you received the recommended doses
of that vaccine.

All other persons should isolate for the required number of days

Should a member of your household test positive for COVID 19. You should take a PCR test even
if you have no symptoms. Students should not attend school whilst they await the result of the
PCR Test. If the results are negative, students can return to school but continue to take regular
Lateral Flow Tests whilst members of their household with COID are isolating. If the PCR test
result is positive, students should stay at home for the required isolation period.

Sheila Fonseca
School Business Manager

Music Extra-curricular Timetable

                    Monday          Tuesday       Wednesday           Thursday          Friday
  Lunchtime      Junior Choir     Junior Band    Jazz Band        Senior Choir    Orchestra
                 Conference       IBO            KHN              KHA             IBO
                 Room
                                  (SF1)          (SF1)            (SF1)           (SF1)
                 13:50- 14:35
                                  13:50-         13:25-14:15      13:25- 14:05    13:30-14:20
                                  14:40

                                                 GCSE/A-level
                                                 support
                                                                  Theory
                                                 IBO
                                                                  IBO
                                                 (SF2)
                                                                  (SF2)
                                                 13:25- 14:05
                                                                  13:30-14:20

  After          String or-       Chamber
  school         chestra          groups
                 IBO              IBO
                 (SF1)            (SF1)
                 15:45-16:30      15:45-16:30

                 Brass Ensem-
                 ble
                 (SF2)
                 15:45-16:15

   These music sessions will be on weekly, girls should bring their own instru-
   ment and no registration is required for the sessions.

REDBRIDGE MUSIC SERVICE
Remind your child to check their music timetable for their lessons , the timetables
have been sent out. The information is also on the notice board by the hall and in
the Jubilee rooms.

Music activities will be starting this week Monday 13th September apart from Senior choir which will start rehears-
ing on Thursday 9th. I would highly encourage people to attend as we have a wide variety of ambitious works, with
all involved performing at our Christmas Concert on Thursday 7 th December.

A brief description of musical activities:
String Orchestra: Open to all string players from grade 3 level and tackling classical repertoire.

Brass Ensemble: A visiting brass specialist from the Redbridge centre will be taking these, open to all brass players.

Junior Band: This ensemble is an excellent introduction to music at the school, available to all instruments and ap-
propriate from novices up to roughly grade 3 equivalent standard.

Chamber groups: These are small ensembles which the music department will supervise and coach alongside pro-
posed initiatives from students. I highly encourage anyone interested to speak to a member of the music department
ahead of time to allow for planning.

Jazz Band: Mainly for years 10-13 instrumentalists, grade 4/5+ level - woodwind, brass, and rhythm section players
(guitar, piano, bass, percussion) We play a range of swing, funk and pop tunes; encouraging learning to improvise
confidently.

GCSE/A-level support: This is an ongoing class to aid any students taking the GCSE or A-level music course.

Senior Choir: A choir for all students in years 10-13, singing a wide variety of music from pop to jazz to classical. The
Senior Choir performs at some of the school’s traditional events – including the School Birthday coming up soon.

Junior Choir: A specialist vocal coach from the Redbridge Music Centre will be attending to lead this. It’s an excel-
lent opportunity for those in years 7-9 to attend regardless of prior experience.

Theory: These sessions provide a great boost in confidence for those who wish to understand the theoretical side
of music not only to supplement music classes across all years, but also for aiding instrumental progress. Coaching
will be based on ABRSM graded books, and will include anyone wishing to do their grade 5 theory exam, which is re-
quired for instrumental grade 6 and higher.

Orchestra: This is the main instrumental body of the school and is open to all relevant instruments of grade 4
equivalent standard or higher.

We have witnessed for ourselves and had numerous complaints from
                  members of the public about dangerous, illegal and inconsiderate
                  parking in the roads around the school.
                  The High Road is a very busy road and drivers not giving due attention
                  to the Highway Code are very likely to cause accidents.

Please be sure not to block access to Haven House or to
Lodge Villas off of the High Road.
Please note that there is a yellow line on the High Road.
Please be sure not to stop as soon as you turn into Char-
ter Road (from the High Road) as this blocks traffic back

In the new Kalimba Club, you can learn how to play the kalimba- a small instru-
ment of African origin- also known as the 'thumb piano'. No prior experience is
needed and beginners are welcome! It will run on Tuesday lunchtimes every week
and we will play music of all kind, beginning with the “Lord of the rings” theme.

Dates for the Diary
AUTUMN 2021
     Term            Friday 3 September       Friday 22 October

   Half-term        Monday 25 October          Friday 29 October

     Term           Monday 1 November         Friday 17 December

Non Contact Day       Friday 8 October

SPRING 2022
     Term          Tuesday 4 January 2022   Friday 11 February 2022

   Half-term      Monday 14 February 2022   Friday 18 February 2022

     Term         Monday 21 February 2022     Friday 1 April 2022

Non Contact Day    Tuesday 8 March 2022

SUMMER 2022
     Term           Tuesday 19 April 2022     Friday 27 May 2022

   Half-term       Monday 30 May 2022         Friday 3 June 2022

     Term           Monday 6 June 2022        Friday 22 July 2022

Non Contact Day   Wednesday 29 June 2022

                  KEY DATES TO REMEMBER

      Wednesday 29 September—School Birthday (102nd)
 Monday 11 to Friday 15 October—House Charity Week (Newton)
     Tuesday 19 October—Sixth Form A Level Options Day
        Tuesday 19 October—Sixth Form Open Evening